Michigan Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 cash reward for tips leading to an arrest and conviction in as many as 12 pellet gun shootings in and around Auburn Hills.

So far, Crime Stoppers personnel have received only one tip relating to the shooting incidents, which happened between Jan. 5 and Feb. 9, in Auburn Hills, Orion Township and Pontiac — some near a major shopping mall.

Auburn Hills Police Lt. Ryan Gagnon said local authorities haven’t taken any new reports since the shooting information was released to the community last week.

“People reached out to us via social media, but we told them to come in and report it with police and no one has yet,” Gagnon said, adding that the shootings don’t appear to be the work of a sniper, but rather, possibly students.

“It doesn’t appear any of these incidents are occurring during normal school hours, which leads us to believe the suspect(s) have some type of schedule.”

More than 800 tips came to Crime Stoppers in 2012 when Wixom resident Raulie Casteel was said to have been terrorizing residents along I-96 in several counties. He pleaded no contest to several charges related to the shootings and was sentenced earlier this month to 104 months to 14 years in prison by Oakland County Circuit Judge Denise Langford Morris.

About the Author

John Turk covers the police beat and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for The Oakland Press. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Reach the author at john.turk@oakpress.com
or follow John on Twitter: @jrturk.